DEATS with Deanna: Discussions around Food & Entrepreneurship

How to Use Storytelling to Grow Your Coaching Business Without Oversharing

Building a strong personal brand does not come from sharing more credentials, creating more content, or following another formula. Often, the most powerful way to stand out online is by learning how to tell the stories that reveal who you are, what you believe, and why your work matters. In this episode, Deanna sits down with Elizabeth Brett, a former NBC reporter turned storytelling coach, to discuss how health professionals and women business owners can use storytelling to build authority, deepen connection, and create content that feels more human in an AI-driven world. Elizabeth shares how to identify your North Star story, how to know what is safe and aligned to share, and why micro-stories may be more powerful than the traditional origin story. Tune in to hear: * Why storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to build authority online * How health professionals can identify the story that anchors their offer * How to know whether you are sharing vulnerably or oversharing * The importance of using your own internal compass when deciding what parts of your story to share * Why your story should connect to the transformation your offer creates * How to navigate stories that involve family members or other people * Why many business owners are not telling enough stories or taking enough creative risks * The difference between proving your authority and showing your authority through lived experience * How to start seeing everyday moments as content and storytelling opportunities * How to use AI as a tool to uncover stories without losing your authentic voice * Why the traditional long-form origin story is becoming less effective * The power of micro-stories and small human moments in building trust * How dietitians and health professionals can talk about weight loss, confidence, or personal struggles with integrity * How to strip away who you think you need to be and show up with more presence * How to build a brand that feels honest, human, and deeply connected to the people you want to serve Connect with Elizabeth: Website: https://www.elizabethsbrett.com [https://www.elizabethsbrett.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsbrett [https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsbrett] Learn more about Story Alchemy and Elizabeth's storytelling resources: https://www.elizabethsbrett.com [https://www.elizabethsbrett.com] Connect with Deanna: Instagram: @dietitiandeanna [https://www.instagram.com/dietitiandeanna/] and @online.entrepreneur.academy [https://www.instagram.com/online.entrepreneur.academy/] Want my help and strategies to have $30, $50 or $100K launches of your online program? Apply to OEA Scale [https://form.typeform.com/to/Ox93sh?typeform-source=dietitiandeanna.com]

From Filling Her Schedule with Insurance Clients to Freedom & Why Her Marketing Felt Harder Than It Needed To Be

Building a successful nutrition business does not always require more followers, more one-on-one clients, or more hours worked. Sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes from getting clear on who you want to serve, creating offers that align with your passion, and learning how to market and sell with confidence. In this episode, Deanna sits down with registered dietitian Liz to discuss her journey from a busy insurance-based private practice to launching a successful group program for runners. Liz shares how she navigated a niche pivot, overcame fears around selling, created her first signature group offer, and built a business model that gives her more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment as both a business owner and a mom. Tune in to hear: * Why Liz decided to shift her focus from disordered eating counseling to performance nutrition for runners * How she knew it was time to invest in business coaching after getting stuck just short of her first $10K month * The mindset shifts required to stop filling every available hour with one-on-one clients * Why creating space in your schedule can actually increase revenue over time * The importance of niche clarity and how identifying a specific sub-niche transformed her marketing * How speaking directly to experienced runners helped her attract the right clients * The difference between posting content consistently versus posting with a clear strategy * Common fears practitioners face when considering a niche pivot * Why you do not need a large social media following to generate significant revenue * How Liz launched her first group program with only around 200 followers on her running-focused account * The structure of her signature program, The Run Fuel Method * How she sold four spots in her first group launch and generated more than $5,000 in revenue * The power of discovery calls and learning how to confidently sell your services * How nurturing conversations in DMs led to additional private-pay clients * Why private-pay packages created more freedom and sustainability than insurance-only services * The pros and cons of working with insurance platforms like Fay * The role accountability played in helping her prioritize marketing and business growth activities * How reducing one-on-one sessions helped eliminate burnout and restore excitement for her work * The impact entrepreneurship can have on family life, flexibility, and being present with young children * The biggest lessons she learned about investing in herself and taking action before feeling fully ready Connect with Liz: https://www.harvestnutritionllc.com/ [https://www.harvestnutritionllc.com/] https://www.instagram.com/harvestingnutritionllc/ [https://www.instagram.com/harvestingnutritionllc/] https://www.instagram.com/runningdietitianliz/ [https://www.instagram.com/runningdietitianliz/] Connect with Deanna: Instagram: @dietitiandeanna [https://www.instagram.com/dietitiandeanna/] and @online.entrepreneur.academy [https://www.instagram.com/online.entrepreneur.academy/] Want my help and strategies to have $30, $50 or $100K launches of your online program? Apply to OEA Scale [https://form.typeform.com/to/Ox93sh?typeform-source=dietitiandeanna.com]

Can You Actually Say That Online? FTC Rules Every Dietitian Should Know with Sam Vander Wielen

If you're a dietitian, nutrition coach, or online health entrepreneur, understanding the legal side of business is more important than ever. From client contracts and scope of practice to social media claims and marketing ethics, many business owners unknowingly put themselves at risk without realizing it. In this episode, Deanna sits down with legal educator, author, and seven-figure entrepreneur Sam Vander Wielen to discuss the biggest legal mistakes health professionals make when building online businesses. Sam shares her journey from lawyer to health coach to legal educator, helping over 150,000 business owners legally protect and grow their companies. In This Episode, We Discuss: * How Sam transitioned from practicing law to building a multi-seven-figure online business * The difference between working as a dietitian versus working as a coach * Why your professional credentials do not automatically expand your coaching scope of practice * Common legal mistakes dietitians and nutrition entrepreneurs make when starting online businesses * Why separate business entities may be necessary for private practice and coaching offers * The importance of contracts, disclaimers, and clear client boundaries * What health professionals can legally say on social media * Why words like "cure," "heal," "diagnose," and "treat" can create legal issues * How to discuss weight loss, client results, and testimonials without making misleading claims * The role of context when sharing transformation stories and success results * Why trust has become more important than ever in online marketing * Sam's simple content strategy that supports consistent seven-figure growth * How email marketing became the cornerstone of her business * The structure behind her recent $500,000 launch * Why simplicity often outperforms complexity in business growth * The growing concerns around AI cloning, voice replication, and content ownership * Legal considerations creators should understand before signing brand contracts Connect with Sam: * Sam Vander Wielen's book: When I Start My Business I'll Be Happy [https://www.samvanderwielen.com/book/] * Sam's podcast: On Your Terms [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-your-terms/id1576423248] * Sam Sidebar Newsletter [https://www.samvanderwielen.com/newsletter] * The Ultimate (Legal) Bundle [https://www.samvanderwielen.com/the-ultimate-bundle/] * Instagram: @samvanderwielen [https://www.instagram.com/samvanderwielen/]

My Mom's Side of the Story: Overcoming My Eating Disorder and Reinventing Herself After Kids

In this episode, I'm sitting down with someone who has seen every version of me...before the business, before entrepreneurship, before healing my relationship with food, and even before I really knew who I was. My mom joins me for a conversation about motherhood, reinvention, resilience, and what it was like watching me navigate some of the hardest seasons of my life. Together, we talk about my eating disorder recovery from her perspective, the challenges and joys of raising three children, and her own incredible story of starting over in her 50s. After spending years as a pharmacist, my mom made the courageous decision to return to school and become a nurse proving that it's never too late to pursue the life you truly want. In this episode, we discuss: * What I was like as a child and the early signs of determination and independence * How gymnastics shaped my mindset, work ethic, and drive * My mom's experience supporting me through an eating disorder and what helped most during recovery * The importance of seeking help early when someone is struggling with mental health or disordered eating * The realities of being both a working mom and a stay-at-home mom * Why community matters so much during motherhood * My mom's journey of leaving pharmacy and returning to school to become a nurse in her 50s * What it feels like to reinvent yourself later in life * The similarities between entrepreneurship and pursuing a second career * How to support your children in following their passions (even when you don't fully understand them) * My ongoing thoughts about having a third child and how family decisions evolve over time * Why there is no "perfect" path when it comes to motherhood, career, or life Instagram: @dietitiandeanna [https://www.instagram.com/dietitiandeanna/] and @online.entrepreneur.academy [https://www.instagram.com/online.entrepreneur.academy/] Want my help and strategies to have $30, $50 or $100K launches of your online program? Apply to OEA Scale [https://form.typeform.com/to/Ox93sh?typeform-source=dietitiandeanna.com]

His Sales were Slow… Then Made $76K

Have you ever felt like you're working harder than ever in your business, but still not seeing the results you want? In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Greg, better known online as The Ski PT. Greg helps skiers recover from injuries and get back on the mountain with confidence, but what makes his story so powerful is the transformation he experienced inside Online Entrepreneur Academy. When Greg joined OEA, he wasn't new to business. He had already worked with multiple coaches, built an audience of nearly 200,000 followers, created offers, and was serving clients. But despite all of that, he was working constantly, spending time on things that weren't actually moving his business forward, and feeling the pressure of a highly seasonal business model. Together, we discuss how he went from chasing every opportunity and managing a time-consuming free community to focusing on the needle movers that actually drive revenue and impact. We talk about simplifying his business, refining his messaging, creating a launch strategy that worked for his audience, and building a predictable system that helped him generate a $76,000 launch. Tune in to hear: • How Greg built a successful online business serving injured skiers • Why having a large audience doesn't automatically lead to sales • The mistake of creating a free community that became a major time drain • How refining his niche and messaging transformed his conversions • The Instagram Story strategy that generated qualified leads • Why understanding pain points is more important than simply educating your audience • The systems that helped him go from inconsistent revenue to a $76,000 launch • What healthcare professionals need to know about building an online business • How to identify your true needle movers and stop wasting time • The mindset shifts that create more freedom, flexibility, and confidence as an entrepreneur Connect with Greg: https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/ [https://www.instagram.com/the_ski_pt/] Instagram: @dietitiandeanna [https://www.instagram.com/dietitiandeanna/] and @online.entrepreneur.academy [https://www.instagram.com/online.entrepreneur.academy/] Want my help and strategies to have $30, $50 or $100K launches of your online program? Apply to OEA Scale [https://form.typeform.com/to/Ox93sh?typeform-source=dietitiandeanna.com]